Torque tube



' c. E. WEAVER.

TORQUE TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16,192]- 1, 35,355. PatentedNov. 14, 1922.,

2 SHEETS-SHE"! 1M G. E. WEAVER.

TORQUE TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE II;v I92I- Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

ZLSHEETS SHEET 2.

wuamtoz Patented Nov." 14, 1922. i i j I CAIUS E. WEAVER, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A SSIGNOR TO BIRMINGHAM MOTOM, TRUST, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK TORQUE TUBE.

Application filed June 16, 1921. serial Ito. 477,997. To allwhom it may concern: 'wise members of the automobile frame; and 55 Be it known that I, Cams E. WEAVER, a Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the and bracket citizen of the United States, residing at the of the torque tube, and the drive line attachcity of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga ment to the flexible joint connection to was 6 and State ofNew York, have invented certransmission and showingthe. brake drum tain new and useful Improvements in therein. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the two 60 Torque Tubes, of which the following, taken parts of the four-way forked or spider- -in connection with the accompanying drawshaped bracket as clamped 9n the front end I ings, isa specification. of the torque tube; and Fig. 10 is a similar 10 The invention relates to the construction plan view of the opposite or transmission and assemblage of torque tubes into automoattaching portion of the enclosure bracket es blle frames; and the improvement consists to which said bracket spider is attached.'-.-'

in providing a torque tube for housin the Like characters'of reference refer to cor- I line or drive shaft from the diiferentia casresponding parts in the several viewer)" 16 ing to the enclosure bracket for a flexible The torque tube is designated bj the n'u' coupling and brake drum attached to the moral 15, and has the attaching'bracket 16 70 rear of the transmission casing, and providattachedto its rear end, said bracket 16 having clamping means on t e supporting cross ing the capped adjustment opening 17 which members so that said torque tube becomes admits to theadjusting rings on the pinion a part of said automobi frame, giving shaft bearing cage to adjust the. same.

added rigidity and strength thereto and to Thenumeral 18 designates the upper por-- 75 i the drive line extending therethrough, maktion, and the numeral 19 the lower portion ing said tube and contamed drive line a part of the two-part spider-shaped four-way of the chassis assemble and the inventlon bracket, whichparts 18 and 19 are clamped 7 consists in the novel features and combinaon the forward end of the torque tube'15vby tions hereinafter set forthand claimed. means of suitable bolts through theflanges 0 In the drawings, Figure 1 is a lengthwise 20 at each side. In order to provide a stron sectional View of, the chassis showing the, bracing bracketed enclosure for the fiexible' torque tube built into the same, the automojoint 21 and the brake drum 22, a'bracketbile body being shown in dotted outline upon plate is attached to the rear end of the said chassis. Fig. 2 is a crosswise sectional transmission casing 25, which plate 23 has 8 6 view of the automobile frame at line 22. in the projecting portions shaped to. fit upon a Fig. 1 showing one of the clamped supportthe projecting parts of the spider-shaped ing joints for the torque tube in a crosswise bracket parts 18 19 to bolt to one another,

86' member of the frame, andthe drive line supprovision beingmade therein for the attaehported concentrically therein. Fig. 3 is an ment of the flexible joint 21 to'the transmist9 elevation of a portion of said cross member sion shaft 24; showing the equal length radial cuts in the same preparatory to turning the points cir- 40 cumferally in line with said tube; and Fig; i v

'4 shows an endwise View of said cross-memf; =b her with the pointed triangular-shaped' w s. clamping members turned at right anglesto shallow ;c said cross member-for clamping Io'nto the 'a nd'lowe torque tube; and Fi 5 is a plan view of the fl'anges; have theangle 12 made a rigid-bracing onof vthe automobile he twocrosswi'se memid ir-am fi which crossade in they '1;

d "27 sa embers a pports 28 and clamping ring for clamping said triangular-"129'. attachdfthereto which. extend out be "shaped members onto t e torque tube. Fig. neath the running boards-:39 teach side to 6 is an elevation of said torque tube removed 'give added rigidity to saidxrunnmg boards, from the automobile frame, the central porassistirig iin making themalsoa part of the 60 tion being broken away and showing the atchassis. f";- v, 'f,

taching brackets at each end: Fig. 7 is a; 'Saigl;'crosswiseinember'sg28 "and 29 are 108 lengthwise sectional view of the torque 'tube rigidly clamped-to the torque tube 15 in the assembled in the chassis, showing theconneefollowing manner: Spaced equal 'len th ra tion at each end thereof, also to the icross dial critaSl are made'in ea 11 of mi cross- Wise members from the axis of the torque tube us it extends et a slightly upward ungle of incline "from the horizontal, thereby providingtoothed or triangular-shaped por tions 82 which are turned at right angles to eech of said crosswise members 28 and "2.9, to be used as spaced clamping members 32 for the torque tube 15, which are integral h ssid crosswise members-28 end n order to firmly clump said members 32 y the torque tube 15, a split outwardly extending lugs'with the bolt 34- therethrough. The outer points of the toothed clamping members 32 are turned ,T'.I] .L -1 sutucientiy to hold said clumping ring firmly in position so that it will not easily slip off said members 32 when reiessed, or until it is desired to remove suid. clumping ring 33 from said clumping members 32.

The drive line shaft 35 is supported in concentric eiinement in said torque tube by means of the packing ring 36'within the for ward end of said torque tube, the tubular shaft ofthe drive shaft being strengthened to make as strong and light s driving shaft as possible. The rear end is supported by, the differential pinion shaft bearing 3? in aiinement'with seid pecking ring 36 so that the rigid support of the torque tube in the automobile frame else firmly supports the drive line within the torque to e 15,.

thereby giving added rigidity end strength to the entire tube and chassis.

It is epperent that this simply constructed torque tube'oen be quiclriy and easily assembled in the automobile frame and when once assembled, is rigidly a. pert of said. frame, hoiding the drivingsheft in perfect eliiiement and givingudded strength to 'seid /Vlqa.t 's cleirned es newis:

In in automobile frame having cross- Wise members, a torque tube extending from the transmission to the diii'erentiul end reinoyebiy connect the tube to seid members.

in an automobile frame structure, a frame member having transverse perforated members, 9, torque tube extending through the perforations, said members each having a series 01 movable parts surrounding thereof, end. to si the "eerie ping ring 33 is provided hsving the- 4 ess s multaneously clamp said movable parts about the tube and egeinst the periphery thereof.

5. In an automobile frame structure, a frame member having transverse perforated members, a torque tube extending through the perforations, tube gripping means borne by such member to engage the periphery of the tube, and means to removubly clamp the tube.

(5. in an automobile frame construction, in combination with the transmission casing the differential casing, and the drive shaft, :1 tube enclosing the drive shaft and extending between said casing, means to attach the forward end of the tube to the transmission casing, means to attach the rear end of the tube to the differential casing, crosswise members between the casings rigidly secured to the frame through which the tube extends, and means to rigidly secure the tube to each of said members.

7. In an automobile frame having spaced crosswise members, a torque tube removebly clamped in said crosswise members in said frame to become a part of the same, and attaching brackets on the forward end. to the transmission casing and on the rear end to the differential casing to assist in the rigid support of said casing.

8. In an automobile frame having spaced crosswise members, said crosswise members: having openings therethrough formed by toothed members shaped by spaced redial cuts and turned at right angles to said cross- A wise members, a torque tube fitting through said openings, and e. clamping ring to rigidly hold said toothed members upon said torque tube to removebly support the same in ulinement in said frame.

9. i an automobile frame structure, a frame member having transverse parts, at torque tube supported intermediate its ends by such of said perts me us to connect the tube to seid ports means t support the rear end of the tube from the differential hous ing and a. member connected to the transmission casing and tothe front end of the tube for supporting said tube front end.

10. In so automobile "frame structure e frame member having transverse parts a. torque tube supported intermediate itsends by each of ssid parts meens to connect the tube to said parts, means to support the rear end of the tube from the differential housing, and a member connected to the transmission casing and to the front end of the tube for supporting said tube front end, end in cluding a pair of complementary parts between which the front end of the tube is received end clamped. I

11. in an sutoihobile frame heving' crosswiseniembers, e torque tube rigidiy supported in. seid members to thereby become a pert of heme, and uttechin on the forward end for attachment to the engine 12. In an automobile frame structure, a

frame member having transverse parts, a torque tube supported intermediate its ends byjeach of said parts, means to connect the tube to said arts, means to support the rear end of the tu e from the differential housing,

' and a member: connected to the transmission casing and to the front end of the tube for supporting said tube front end andincludin a bracket formed in two parts, means to attach each part to the transmission casing, said brackets having complementary parts which engage over the front end of the tube, and means to clamp the complementary parts together and about the tubel V 13. In an automobile frame construction, a series of transverse members, a torque tube removably supported by said members,

means to rigidly secure the tube to said membars, a bracket carried by the rear end of the tube, means to connect saidbracket to the differential housing, a bracket "carried by the transmission housing, and means to removablyattach the front end of the tube to said last named bracket,

14. In an automobile frame construction,

in combination with the transmission casing the differential casing, and the drive shaft, a.

tube enclosing the drive shaft and extending between said casings,'means to attach the for Ward end of the tube to thetransmission cas ing, means to attach the rear end of the tube to the differential casing, and means between the casings rigidly secured to the frame and to the tube for supporting the latter.

15. In an automobile frame construction, a tube enclosing the drive shaft, means to support the tube at its front end adjacent to the transmission, means to support the rear end of the tube adjacent to the differential, and means to rigidly support the tube from the frame at a pointbetween the transmission and differential.

16. In an automobile frame construction, a tube enclosing the drive shaft, means to attach thefront end of the tube to the transmission casing, means to attach the rear end of the tube to the difi'erent-ial casing, and means to rigidly support the tube from the frame at a point between the transmission and differential.

In testimony whereof I have affixed signature in the presence of two witnesses,

' CAIUS E. WEAVFR.

Witnesses:

Tnro. Tuoams Haas, CURINNE V. SWANsoN. 

